Who here has a battery tender?

["Turbo-T"]

I've decided I'm going to buy myself a battery tender. I see they have several types.

Looking at the battery tender jr. and the battery tender plus....I am going to guess neither one of these is really good for anything more than keeping an already charged battery alive? I.E. a dead battery they could not bring back like a typical charger could/would do?

Ideally I want one that charges dead batteries but also keeps them charged at idle. Experts what optios am I looking at? The $499 20 ampere model?

 

[SS_Sean]

I use the autometer unit. It's like a 1.5 amp trickle charger for keeping batteries topped off. Ten years and no problems.

 

[2QUICK2B6]

I have a batt tender plus works great

 

[gnx139]

I have the basic battery tender, the same one that Kirban sells. I plug it in about once a week and let it sit for one day. Works great!

 

[aminga]

I have the basic battery tender, the same one that Kirban sells. I plug it in about once a week and let it sit for one day. Works great!

You can leave it plugged in that's the whole point.

I have a Plus. When deciding between a model decide how fast you want it to rebuild when plugged in. A Plus will charge 2x faster than the jr.

There's a good reason to pick a Battery tender brand. A few months ago I my plus go out on me (the parts monkey at the big box store suggested I trickle charge my deadl Optima and it burnt up my battery tender). Deltran took it back and replaced it and all I was out was the shipping.

 

[Little6pack]

sounds crazy but I would go with regular charger. keep it attached to your battery while car is down for the winter. Once a month turn it on for 1 or 2 days then just unplug. Month latr do same thing.

Now that my car is in heated storage the guy asked if I wanted to bringbattery home I said no.... too much of PIA to store in ICE GARAGE.

 

[ijames]

Most chargers will overcharge a battery if left connected too long, that's the point of the battery tenders, they cut the voltage back to maintain a full charge after they get there. You can use one to charge a dead or very weak battery but since even the plus is only a 6 amp charger it will take a few days. It should be able to protect itself so a truly dead battery shouldn't burn it up. I have a plus, and used it after I left the lights on and totally drained an ac delco battery. Put it on and walked away, next day the car started (probably could have started sooner but didn't try), shut it back off and left the tender on, after 4-5 days the little green spot finally lit up for whatever that's worth . I move the tender back and forth between my car battery (car isn't running) and a deep cycle boat battery, keeps both up and happy over the winter.

 

[79TurboCutlass]

I use a Shumacker(spelling?) Digital readout shows volts and battery %. Has a selection for battery type, charge rate of 2, 10, 20 amps. For a 12v battery you put it on 10amps and forget about it. Once it is fully charged it will cycle on a tend mode. Works great, The past 2 years, my Optima is ready to go in the spring.

 

[DailyDrifter]

I got one from advanced auto ....................but it does the job. I think its 2 amp, and it turns off once the battery is charged. I forget what I paid for it but its been worth it so far.

 

[fastlif]

Been using them for years on motorcycles, atv, cars that sit more than a day or two. Leave them on all the time and never have a battery problem. Well worth the $$! I think I have 5 running now.

 

[GSX-PKV]

What is the difference between a Battery Tender and a Battery Tender Jr.

 

[gnxtc2]

I don't use the Battery Tender brand but a Craftsman one. I cut the ring terminals off and put the alligator clips on the wire ends.

I used to go through a battery a year without the battery charger. With the battery maintainer, I have yet to replace a battery in atleast 5 years.

Billy T.
gnxtc2@aol.com

 

[GDNF2ET]

My T sits in storage, went to a batteries only type store and asked about the trickle chargers, the guy there told me not to waste my money, just disconnect the negative cable..This has been working so far on a junkyard battery for a year now..I do start the car once every 2-3 months, let it run for about 5 minutes and cut it off...

 

[grape of wrath]

I also have the autometer charger. Harbor freight sells some cheapy/chinese
chargers if your looking to save money.

 

[Pronto]

Sears trickle charger. Comes with 2 sets of wires to charge the battery. One has a cigarette lighter plug on the end. Plug it in and forget about it until spring.

 

[Butchman]

Been using the Battery tender plus for a couple years. Works great. I keep it hooked up all winter.

 

[turbopete]

Battery tender

Works fine for me.

 

["Turbo-T"]

Sears trickle charger. Comes with 2 sets of wires to charge the battery. One has a cigarette lighter plug on the end. Plug it in and forget about it until spring.

Was going to ask about that one...I was in Sears a few weekends ago and I noticed they sell their own brand of what looks like a Battery Tender for like $29.99...is that the one you have? How well does it work for you?

 

[Pronto]

The one I have is a Die Hard 71219. Seems to work just fine. I think I got it while on sale last year for under $20.

 

[Quick6'n'-K.C.]

My T sits in storage, went to a batteries only type store and asked about the trickle chargers, the guy there told me not to waste my money, just disconnect the negative cable..This has been working so far on a junkyard battery for a year now..I do start the car once every 2-3 months, let it run for about 5 minutes and cut it off...

I agree, if the car is going to sit, just unplug the battery. That is what i have always done and had good luck.
One less chance of the car catching on fire too

BW